Sorry you don't like the upgrade. My apps sit at the bottom of the screen and they are the same size as before. You can always move the apps to a different screen where they are less congested?
I bought the note for the same reason as you but perhaps my eyesight is not as bad as yours, just a guess.

I think that morddwyd's problem is that his apps are phone apps designed for phone screens and not the near tablet or tablet size screens. I have an iPad if I use an iPhone app it sits in the centre of the screen. Pinching doesn't work with those but at least most come with 2 x zoom.